“Only construction of buildings in the name of hospitals and their canteens do not serve the purpose. There must be proper treatment of gas victims,” said gas victims on the eve of 34th anniversary of Bhopal gas tragedy of December 2-3, 1984. They alleged, “Over 5.75 lakh gas victims are deprived off proper medications in various notified gas hospitals. They said that 100 gas victims every day are dying due to ill effect of gas effects.”
EX-CM Babulal Gaur said, “People of 36 wards (as per old delimitation) are still deprived off compensation. We have done our level best. Both centre as well as state government have provided for better medical facilities. Sufficient hospitals have been constructed for the gas victims.”
NGOs working for welfare of gas victims said that death rate is 28 per cent more in gas victims in comparison to healthy persons. Besides, gas victims are more vulnerable to various chronic diseases like cancer, TB, and other pulmonary diseases.
Satinath Sadagi of Sambhavana trust which provide medical treatment to gas victims, said, “So far Rs 500 crore has been spent in the name of treatment of gas victims but still they are moving from pillar to post for proper and door step medical treatment.
Merely constructing hospitals and canteens do not serve the purpose. There must be proper medication facilities for gas victims. They are still moving from pillar to post for availability of medical facilities.” Abdul Jabbar, head of Bhopal Gas Peedith Mahila Udyog Saghathan (BGPMUS), said, “Our politicians are spineless. 34 years have passed since the tragedy took place, no one stands by us. As a result, the gas-hit people are leading a miserable life. This time we have planned to ask for compensation on a legal document.
This time, gas victims mounted the pressure on politicians during Madhya Pradesh assembly poll campaign for better facilities. In fact, citizen groups asked candidates contesting elections particularly in areas of the city most affected by the Bhopal Gas Tragedy, for a notarised pledge promising compensation, failing which they will take legal action against them.”
The Tragedy
Deadly Methyl Isocyanate (MIC) gas leaked from the Union Carbide India Ltd plant, in the state capital in the intervening night of 2-3 December 1984. 3,000 died instantly while over 500,000 people were estimated to be affected by the mishap. This industrial disaster has killed nearly 20,000 people since that night according to some unofficial estimates, while lakhs remain severely disabled suffering from debilitating conditions like lung cancer, eye disorders, kidney and liver failure.
